Colorado Rapids on brink of signing striker Yannick Boli – sources

The Colorado Rapids are on the brink of acquiring Ivory Coast international striker Yannick Boli, who last played for Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang, league sources have told ESPN FC.

Colorado will add Boli, 30, with targeted allocation money and he completed a medical in London this morning.

While Boli is capable of playing on the wing, he is considered to be a true No. 9, and will compete with Dominique Badji and recently acquired Joe Mason for playing time in manager Anthony Hudson’s 3-5-2.

Boli was born in the Paris suburb of Saint-Maur-des Fosses but has represented Ivory Coast at international level, making his sole appearances for the Elephants in 2017. He also represented the Ivory Coast at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Boli joined Paris Saint-Germain as an 11-year-old, eventually turning professional with the club in 2005. He later went on loan to Le Havre and was later transferred to Nimes in 2010.

Boli then played with clubs in Bulgaria and Ukraine before landing in 2014 with Russia side Anzhi Makhachkala, where spent parts of three seasons. He led the second-tier Russian National League in scoring during the 2014-15 season, a campaign that saw Anzhi win promotion to the Russia Premier League. Overall, he scored 30 goals in 67 league and cup appearances.

He joined second-tier side Dalian Yifang in 2017, where he scored 16 goals in helping the club gain promotion to the CSL.

Dalian bought out Boli’s contract earlier this year so they could sign Nico Gaitan and Yannick Carrasco from Atletico Madrid.

Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle.